Lighthouses have long been the symbol of salvation, warning sailors away from dangerous rocks and shallow waters. Along the Great Lakes, America’s inland seas, lighthouses played a vital role in the growth of the nation. They shepherded settlers traveling by water to places that had no roads. These beacons of light required constant tending even in remote and often dangerous places. Brave men … places. Brave men and women battled the elements and loneliness to keep the lights shining. Their sacrifice kept goods and immigrants moving. Seven romances set between 1883 and 1911 bring hope to these lonely keepers and love to weary hearts.
Anna’s Tower by Pegg Thomas
1883–Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse
Anna Wilson’s plan to be the next lighthouse keeper is endangered when Maksim Ivanov is shipwrecked on Thunder Bay Island. Handsome and capable, he could steal her dream. Or provide a new one.
Beneath a Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson
1885–New Presque Isle Lighthouse
Ava Ryan’s father has passed, leaving her alone, and ill, to tend the light with nowhere else to go. Logging foreman Benjamin Colfax needs the height of the lighthouse to determine the best cutting route, but he senses something amiss in Ava and her determination to remain reclusive. Can he get her to open up, or will she keep herself locked away?
Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson
1892–Old Mission Point Lighthouse
Rose Miller was found on the lighthouse doorstep as an infant, and now she must hide her quest to find the child who left her there from Captain Nathan Perry, the man she loves to hate.
Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels
1898–Round Island Lighthouse
Valerie Fillman’s best hope for a future lies on the tiny island that holds her worst memories. Can Paul Sholtus, the new lightkeeper, and his daughter help bring healing? And love?
The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser
1899–Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Natalie Brooks loses her past to amnesia, and Cal Waterson, the lighthouse keeper who rescues her, didn’t bargain on risking his heart–when her past might change everything.
The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley
1902–Whitefish Point Lighthouse
Romance and mystery collide at Whitefish Point Lighthouse when unemployed doctor Norma Kimbell and Drake Logan, owner of a steamship line, search for evidence of a supposed shipwreck.
The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk
1911–Au Sable Lighthouse
Lydia Palmer’s dream for happiness as a lighthouse keeper’s wife shatters when her fiancé Nathan Drake drowned in a shipwreck, but his brother Jesse survived.
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This is a collection of 7 novellas all taking place in Michigan in lighthouses. Each of the seven books were historical romances. These were all fun to read. I enjoyed each one of them. These gave me a few new authors to look up. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
With its eight authors, this collection guarantees hours of entertaining reading, but my favorites were the first two: Anna’s Tower, by Pegg Thomas, and Beneath a Michigan Moon, by Candice Sue Patterson. With her clever plots and interesting settings, Pegg is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. While not a new author, Candice is new to me, and I’m definitely glad I found her. I’ll be keeping an eye out for her other books from now on. If you love historical romance, you’ll love this.
Who doesn’t love seeing those imposing towers along the shores of our Great Lakes and on the coastlines of our great country! Lighthouses have a fascination that lives in the mind of most everyone that has lived near large bodies of water. What would it be like to actually live in and care for one of those fabulous lights? This is a wonderful collection of novellas that bring those dreams to life.
Anna’s Tower – Pegg Thomas
Anna learns that dreams sometimes take circuitous routes as she realizes she does not have to do everything by herself. A shipwreck deposits a stowaway from a country far away – is it possible that this is her answer to prayer?
Beneath a Michigan Moon – Candice Sue Patterson
Ava and her father have moved to the lighthouse hoping it would be better for her health. Unfortunately it has not been good for her father, and now Ava is the lighthouse keeper. Can she forgive her father’s untimely death, discover what’s really going on with her health and save her reputation?
Safe Haven – Rebecca Jepson
Little footprints in the sand and an embroidered hair ribbon was all Rose had left. Her grandfather had passed away and now he wasn’t really her grandfather. Whatever was she to do and how would she survive the winter? Learning to give all this to the Lord, Rose received so much more in return than she could have ever dreamed of.
Love’s Beacon – Carrie Fancett Pagels
A trip to Mackinac Island from her home on Round Island brings a whole new world to Val. Suddenly she is on her own with only snippets of memories from a time long ago. While working as a nanny for the new Lighthouse keeper, her past is slowly unraveled. A story of a bracelet, a stolen child and a long lost family showed how Love’s Beacon guided her home.
The Last Memory – Kathleen Rouser
A dreadful storm, a shipwreck and only one survivor who doesn’t even know her name. The widowed Lighthouse keeper, his small daughter and aunt nurse ‘Mallory’ back to health. But how can she face the future knowing nothing of her past?
The Disappearing Ship – Lena Nelson Dooley
A telegram reports the loss of a ship in a storm, but with no wreckage or survivors, the owner, Drake, sets out to hopefully find some evidence of what occurred. At the lighthouse he finds willing helpers in a female doctor and an assistant lighthouse keeper, both of whose expertise is needed before this mystery is solved.
The Wrong Survivor – Marilyn Turk
Two brothers in a shipwreck – one survives and the other perishes. There is no blame to be laid, yet young Jesse takes that guilt on himself since his older brother did not return home to his fiancé. Can forgiveness and acceptance be found by all concerned?
I received an advance copy of this collection from NetGalley for my perusal. All comments and opinions are my own.
The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection is a wonderful set of seven stories of women finding love on the shores of the Great Lakes. Each story is unique with the heroines and heroes who have different challenges to overcome, such as a young shipwrecked woman with amnesia, a young woman doctor who no one wants to see professionally, a widower whose young daughter is praying for a new mother and an owner of a shipping company with a missing ship. The authors were mostly new to me and yet there were a couple of my favorites too–Carrie Fancett Pagels and Pegg Thomas. Each of the authors has her own delightful way of storytelling, some with a little humor, some with suspense and heartbreaking drama, but all weave faith in God and his grace and mercy throughout their stories of love and romance in a variety of situations. Through a time span during the 1880s through 1911 the stories take readers to the various lighthouses that are scattered throughout the Great Lakes region. Interesting tidbits of history and vivid scenes (even some swoon-worthy kisses) along with strong, evocative characters make these stories come alive and readers recognize that even in the despair and struggles of lighthouse life there is hope and goodness. Don’t miss this fascinating collection of stories.
I read a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
I’ve always been drawn to lighthouses, and if a book’s cover features a lighthouse, I almost always give it a closer look. Lighthouses are majestic, the ocean view from the top breathtaking. But it’s the spiritual imagery that moves me most. From the light that guides through the darkness of night, to the sacrificial efforts of those who man it, the lighthouse is a compelling picture of salvation – and the stories in this collection reflect that spiritual theme. Although I’ve only read one story so far from Barbour Publishing’s The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides, they all promise to be entertaining.
The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser takes place in spring of 1899 at the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, guiding ships through the Straits of Mackinac. The story of Cal Waterson and Natalie Brooks is one of rescue, a caring family environment, and a relationship founded upon friendship. Natalie, the lone survivor of a shipwreck, suffers from amnesia and stays with Cal’s family until word as to her identity can be received from the shipping line. There’s a sweet chemistry between them, as well as with Cal’s daughter and aunt. I especially enjoyed going back to a time when things moved slower, and the gaining of information took time and patience. I also enjoyed visiting the world of the Watersons, typical of many families who lived in remote areas, worked tirelessly, and sacrificed long nights to guide and rescue when needed.
Although shorter than a full-length novel, The Last Memory has well-developed characters, a fulfilling storyline, and a relevant faith theme. I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to more of Kathleen Rouser’s writing.
Recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides
Each novella is set a different place in history starting from 1883 to 1911.
The seven novella’s covers a lot of history, each with a separate story surrounding a lighthouse. I learned the importance of a lighthouse and a lot of other great information about lighthouses. I enjoyed each one, especially the one with the dog in it.
I have read a few of the authors in the book and a few not. Reading a book like this one is a great way to find new authors.
I received an complementary copy of the book from NetGalley through the publisher and Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
The Great Lakes Lighthouse Bride Collection consists
of a collection of seven historical romances revolving
around lighthouses. These stories are set in between
the years 1883 and 1911.
The lighthouses back in that time period were worked
by manual labor to keep the lights in working order.
These beacons were essential to guide ship safely
through the waters.
The research was impeccable in accuracy in the
workings of the various lighthouses. The characters
showed how the people’s lived in those days. They
were creatively crafted, vivid, hard working, colorful
and very interesting. The determination to keep the
lights working for the safety of those on the waters
despite all obstacles was amazing.
The seven novella are as follows
…..Anna’s Tower by Pegg Thomas
1883—Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse
This was my favorite novella. Great characters with
vivid descriptions plus an interesting plotted story.
…..Beneath A Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson
1885—New Presque Isle Lighthouse
…..Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson
1892—Old Mission Point Lighthouse
…..Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels
1898—Round Island Lighthouse
…..The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser
1899—Mackinac Point Lighthouse
…..The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley
1902—Whitefish Point Lighthouse
…..The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turka
1911—Au Sable Lighthouse
I volunteered to read the Great Lakes Lighthouse
Bides collection. Thanks to Barbour and Net Gallery
for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.
A Very Highly Recommended Read!!!
e Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection by Pegg Thomas, Lena Nelson Dooley, Rebecca Jepson, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Candace SuePatterson, Kathleen Rouser and Marilyn Turk is another wonderful collection by Barbour Publishing.
I have always thought lighthouses were interesting and romantic. This might stem from watching Captain January with Shirley Temple when I was a child. This collection has definitely fed my penchant for lighthouse stories. The tales are unique and interesting. I liked the fact that each one was based on a real lighthouse. The writing is very good and captures the eras that each is written about. Among my favorites are Anna’s Tower by Pegg Thomas, Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels and The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser.
I recommend this collection to those who want to travel back in time to learn about the history of lighthouses and read some wonderful romances as well.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher on behalf of one the authors. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Wonderful collection. Each story brought me to the shores where lighthouses can be found. I could feel the wind on my face, hear the waves crashing the shore and felt the emotions of the characters. From bravery to finding trust and love through adversity, each story brings promise and hope. Beautiful book cover and great stories. I received a copy of this book from the authors, publishers and NetGalley and this is my own personal opinion. No review was required.
The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser is the focus of the Celebration Tour. This novella is exciting! The author designed a mystery lady at the center of it. The only survivor of a shipwreck and rescued by the lighthouse keeper, she takes the only name she remembers, that of the ship she sailed on. Cal, his daughter Lily, and his Aunt Ada welcome “Mallory” into their home as she heals. Weeks later, nobody has come to find her and she has only brief memories. This is a wonderful tale to delight those who love the Lord, appreciate lighthouses, and the hope of romance.
I read all the novellas! These Christian historical authors are among the best, and I highly recommend them! Faith, healing, grief, intrigue, and forgiveness are but a glimpse of what enriches these beautiful Great Lakes lighthouse settings.
The Disappearing Ship: Norma, a doctor, returns to her aunt and uncle at Whitefish Point Lighthouse. She feels defeated as patients in Chicago wouldn’t let her treat them. She meets Drake Logan, who has a telegram about his missing ship and valuables from an anonymous sole survivor.
The Wrong Survivor: Lydia is the Au Sable lighthouse keeper’s daughter. Her fiancé left for a shipboard adventure with his brother Jesse before they marry. One day a shattered Jesse returns on crutches. The ship they were on had hit a reef in a storm, split, and he could not save his brother. Lydia is devastated and blames Jesse for talking Nathan into going away.
Anna’s Tower: Anna has always dreamed of being lighthouse keeper at Thunder Bay Island. She lives there with Uncle Jim in hopes of learning and assisting. The ship Russian immigrant Maksim Ivanov was working on wrecked near the lighthouse, and he stays to help until the last ferry in the season goes to the mainland. Anna didn’t plan on Maksim taking her dream job, or the one reason she knew deep in her heart that would keep her from the job.
Beneath a Michigan Moon: Ava is the lighthouse keeper at New Presque Isle Lighthouse since her father’s death. She has a diagnosis that most do not survive. When Benjamin Colfax, foreman of the nearby lumberjack crew, realizes she is alone, he tries to help with the heavy work. When she becomes desperately ill, he takes care of her even though she believes her is dying. Now he wants to marry her to protect her reputation.
Safe Haven: Rose Miller’s grandfather, keeper of Old Mission lighthouse, passed away after telling her that she was abandoned at the lighthouse as a babe. He took her in and raised her. She is now the lighthouse keeper. Old friend Captain Nathan Perry came to visit her grandfather. When he saw her lack of provisions, he spent the winter in her grandfather’s cabin to help. When spring comes, he is going back to running the ship he loves, leaving her alone again.
Love’s Beacon: Val is away from the lighthouse by herself for the first time to get meds for her parents and siblings. The inspector meets her at the dock and sends her to the convent, where she is told they died during her absence. No proof was found of her being their child. That might explain her nightmares and fleeting memories of other homes. Father Joseph and Sister Mary Lou determine to find the truth for her. When Paul and his daughter, Sofia, go to the lighthouse as the next keeper, he hires Val to care for the 3-yr-old whose mother died giving birth to her.
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this e-book from CelebrateLit, and this is my honest review.
Another wonderful collection by Barbour Publishing. Long before radar and technology came into existence, ships depended on Lighthouses to light a safe path to shore. These are a few stories taking place between 1883 and 1902, that show us how hard lighthouse life is. It was often lonely work too. The need for a loving partner is obvious. Each novella is a sweet romance with a happy ending but they are all unique, filled with twists, turns, hardships, and a few mysteries. I loved taking my time reading through this collection. I’m sure I will revisit these novellas again.
I thank the publisher for providing an e-copy through NetGalley. No review was required. All opinions are my own.
I also thank the person that sent me a paperback copy of this beautiful book for my birthday!
Magnificent, superb collection of Christian historical romance filled with Great Lake Lighthouses and characters that endured so much while serving as the keeper of their particular lighthouse. Each novella is crafted with creativity, historical research details, the intricate workings of a lighthouse, and characters that represented lives from the past and fictional characters to blend into a tale that was a pleasure to read. Each of the heroines faced their challenges with determination, resilient, faith, hard work and a goal to keep the lighthouse light beaming to save lives out on the waters. There’s answered prayers especially for six year old Lily in The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser, along with prayers being answered for others in each novella. Secondary characters added moments of laughter to tears and heartfelt emotions while reading. I needed a tissue at times because of the tears.
The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides is my favorite collection by Barbour Publishing. I would appreciate seeing another collection by these same authors with more of the Lighthouses surrounding the Great Lakes or expanding their individual novella into a novel as life moved on for each heroine and hero as keepers of their particular Lighthouse or new location.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from one of the authors. I was under no obligation to write a review but have expressed my sincere thoughts.
Will they find love or be lost to the stormy waters?
Anna’s Tower by Pegg Thomas
This is one of the two stories that I most looked forward to in this collection and I was not disappointed. I loved the sweet romance between two very different characters and the dash of danger was just right.
Beneath A Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson
So this author is one of the new-to-me ones in this collection. I loved this story and definitely hope to read more from her in the future. Having visited other parts of Michigan before I could really visualize this story as I read it.
Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson
I think this may just be my favorite story in the collection. Not only because of two-decades-old mystery but also because I have actually visited the lighthouse where the story is set! It really made the story and characters come to life for me.
Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels
This was the second story that I most looked forward to when I started the collection. Mystery abounds in this tale of intrigue and sweet romance. Not to mention this story has the most adorable little girl! You just want to hug her!
The Last Memory by by Kathleen Rouser
This was the second totally new-to-me author in this collection and I found myself enjoying story set on Lake Huron. It starts out with a real bang, a shipwreck, and slowly leads into a wonderfully sweet romance.
The Disappearing Ship
Aside from the obvious parallel to Salvation, the other word that seems to be associated with lighthouses would be ‘mystery’. And boy, does this romance about a woman doctor and her handsome have quite the adventure within!
The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk
What an intriguing title this novella has, and it really matches this tale of loss, love, and forgiveness. This was the final new-to-me author in the collection and now I’m curious to discover any other stories she might have.
Overall
Really, all I had to see was the word ‘lighthouse’ and this book went straight onto my wishlist. I am a longtime lighthouse fan and I’ve been to 7 on Lake Michigan. Then I saw a couple of names of familiar authors and that only added icing on the cake.
I really loved this themed collection of novellas, from both familiar authors and new ones, and I would highly recommend it to any fan of Barbour’s novella collections and especially to anyone who loves lighthouses.
(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)
This was a wonderful collection of stories. Some of these authors I was familiar with and some were new to me. Each of the authors were able to create great characters and hold my attention. I liked that even though these stories were all romances, four of them also had a mystery. I loved this book and would recommend it.
I received a copy of this book as a gift from one of the authors and was not asked to write a review.
I have always been fascinated with lighthouses. A beacon of light high in a tower that warned sailors of danger and helped them safely guide their ships. I knew that there were people who maintained them but I had never really stopped to think about the type of person who took on this responsibility. Seven authors have joined to each write a novella about the lighthouses that were stationed along the Great Lakes between the years of 1883 to 1911. The Great Lighthouse Brides Collection offers readers the chance to imagine the lives of the men and women who served as lighthouse keepers. People who faced loneliness, hardship and danger as they kept the lighthouses going so that the journeys would be safe for the settlers who were forced to travel by ship. In each of these novellas female characters play an important part. There is an independent young woman who wants to earn a job as a lighthouse keeper, the young woman who needs to protect her secret to remain at the lighthouse, and another young woman seeking to find who left her as a baby on the lighthouse steps. One woman is helped by a male lighthouse keeper when she finds herself forced to return to the place that caused her so much misery and still another is rescued by a lighthouse keeper after losing her past memories to amnesia. Add the mystery of a shipwreck and a young woman grieving for her fiancee who died in a shipwreck and you have seven stories that will keep you engrossed. Historical fiction, yes, but there is also lots of romance and some of the stories simply take your breath away!
I am very impressed with the ability of seven different authors to create stories that worked so well together. The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection is a great choice for anyone who only has short amounts of time to read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and Christian romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required.
Weathering the storms of life
We live in an age when the lighthouses that are still working are not manned for the most part. As a result of this, despite the various tours I have taken to lighthouses, (or perhaps because of them), I have thought of lighthouses more as museums to the past than the beacons of safety that they are.
These stories of the men and women who have willingly isolated themselves, working nights and sleeping during the day, enduring the blares of foghorns to warn away ships when the light can’t be seen, and making countless other sacrifices for the safety of others, have changed the way I think of lighthouses, and especially their keepers.
The stories, while all romances, varied greatly. I thought it clever that while they all take place in Michigan, the time period of each one is progressively later than the previous.
I enjoyed some of the stories more than others, which is not surprising with a collection such as this. My favorites were Anna’s Tower and Beneath a Michigan Moon. The rating I gave is based on these stories.
Anna’s Tower was filled with surprises, for the characters and for me. Anna’s secret was a complete surprise and I love the way it influenced the story. Maksim was such a delightful character. The Russian immigrant who had escaped the pogroms despite the fact that he was not a Jew himself. His determination to learn English and to be as useful around the lighthouse as possible made him so endearing, as did the beautiful way the author fleshed out his personality.
Beneath a Michigan Moon was very touching. Ava’s determination to keep the death of her father a secret so she could stay on at the lighthouse placed her in an awkward situation, especially when Ben needed access to the tower. I loved his determined and protective nature and the way he was able to show such kindness and love towards Ava.
I was a little disappointed that there was no mention of Cam’s need to forgive. Despite the way he had been wronged, forgiveness isn’t optional. It’s a command. Not that I think he should have acted differently in the situation at the end of the book – that was truly the choice that made the most sense. It’s just that the need to forgive was not addressed at all.
As the fourth book of the Family Blessings series, there were many characters from previous books here – Jules has a big family. While it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story that I don’t know the backstories, it was clear that I had missed out by not having read the previous books.
Read with a Preview at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
My favorite part of this collection is that the stories took place in Michigan, my home state, and I know many of the lighthouses that were written about. That added to my enjoyment of this book.
Each author did a great job of writing about “their” era and lighthouse. I loved all the descriptions. If you are at all familiar with the Great Lakes you could smell the water and hear the surf. The characters in each story were well developed and very true to life. Situations and emotions were imaginable. Each author wrote in her particular style; there will be a something for everyone.
Come visit Michigan through this book. You’ll fall in love with our lighthouses and want to see them for yourself. You’ll find a warm welcome!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection takes place in the late 1800 early 1900 centuries. It is a romantic collection of seven different novellas of faith, family, strength, courage and brave female lighthouse keepers. I was drawn into each story in this book and several of the novellas I wish had been made into a full book. I was enlightened by these novellas having no idea as to the extent of a lighthouse keepers duties, especially a female lighthouse keeper living in a remote isolated location who still had gardening, cooking, laundry, etc duties. The authors obviously did thorough research.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This is my honest opinion.
I was excited to read this book because I love lighthouses. I actually collect them and they have always fascinated me. They bring light to darkness and give hope for those lost. The book contains several stories and I loved how we get a taste of each author’s style of writing. The stories are short and for some of them I wish they were longer because I felt the story ended too soon. Overall I was pleased with the book and thought the stories flowed easily from one to the next. There are a few stories that had similar plots which I was disappointed in.
Anna’s Tower by Pegg Thomas
The first story is set in 1883 where a shipwreck has just happened. I liked the excitement the author built up as rescuers came to help. There is one man from the ship who may find himself in trouble if it is discovered who he is and how he came to be on the ship. Anna is a wonderful character and has dreams of running the lighthouse by herself one day. I would love to visit a lighthouse and see the beauty and power it displays. I really liked Makism and his gentle way he had around others. He was eager to work and the attraction between him and Anna was a breath of fresh air. The author does a great job of wanting readers to follow these two and see what happens between them. I loved the theme in the story about overcoming fear and trusting others.
Beneath a Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson
This story finds us in 1885 at New Presque Isle Lighthouse, Lake Heron. I immediately liked the light hearted banter between Ava and Benjamin. He is insisting to see Ava’s father, but there is a slight problem with that. How long can Ava hide her secret before others find out? Ava is a feisty young woman determined to do things on her own. The lighthouse is so important and she resents that snoopy Benjamin keeps coming around. There were times I found their encounters to be comical while Ava tries to discourage Benjamin from coming back to bother her so much. What does he want and why is he so interested in the lighthouse? The story is good and has wonderful details of the lighthouse. What will happen between Ava and Benjamin? It’s a great story and I loved the characters. I wanted to spend more time with them and enjoy their connection that grew slowly. The unexpected twist in the story was well written and brings a barrier between Ava and Benjamin. This is a story is about forgiveness and new beginnings.
Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson
We now get to visit Old Mission, Michigan in 1892. Rose is a very interesting character and I was intrigued about her past. It was hard for her to believe that someone left her at the lighthouse when she was an infant. Why would someone abandon such a special gift as a child? I have noticed a theme as I read each story so far. In this time period of the late 1800s it was not proper for a young woman to be alone with a man if they are not married. It was a refreshing thing to have women treated with respect and how their reputations were of the upmost concern. I am a bit disappointed that this story and the last one are kinda similar in story line. Both women are on their own after losing their father or grandfather. It does make the main character stronger but I was hoping for a little more variety. I did like the mystery surrounding Rose and loved the details of a past that has haunted Rose for years.
Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Our travels take us to Mackinac Island starting in 1897. Val has traveled a distance to get medicine for her ill parents. When she gets ready to return home, she is told that she cannot travel there tonight. You could feel how distraught she was worrying about her parents. She is taken to the parish to spend the night. I could sense that Val would be receiving bad news soon. There is a mystery in this story about who Val’s parents are. Again the story is very similar to the previous one. It is frustrating to read a story where you feel like it is almost the same plot as one you just read. Val gets work taking care of a child while the father works. I have to say I was intrigued to see how how the author would unravel Val’s past. Will Val finally find out who her real parents are? There is a bit of romance in the story but I didn’t find that it added anything to enhance the story. I have read other books that this author has read and always found them to be very good. This short story seemed rushed and not as detailed as she usually writes.
The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser
This story opens up in 1899 where we find a young woman struggling to stay afloat before the waters take her away. The young woman is rescued but doesn’t know who she is. I would not like to have amnesia. It would be frightening to not know who you are or where you came from. To be surrounded by strangers made the woman a bit on edge. The news that she is the only survivor of the Mallory shocks her. I adored the little girl in the story. She wants a mama so bad, she believes the sea has brought her one. Her father did tell her once that she would only have a mama if the Great Lakes coughed her up . I think her father has some explaining to do after the mysterious woman shows up from the sea. Cal is a good man and is willing to help Mallory as she calls herself. He wants to know who she really is as well ans its obvious that his daughter is starting to get attached to her. This story seemed to have a bit more mention of God and I found it be a welcome addition. The story did keep my interest and I did enjoy the ending.
The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley
Our journey finds us next in Upper Michigan in 1902. Norma is a female doctor who has found out that not many if anyone really welcomes a woman doctor. She feels like a failure and decides to go home to her aunt and uncle. This story was fun to read as a mysterious ship has disappeared . Did someone sabotage it or was the ship stolen because of what cargo it was carrying. Norma and Drake hit it off right away and she decides to help him find out what happened to the ship. The story is good and I loved how Drake trusted Norma by taking her with him as he looks for the whereabouts of his cargo. It’s s a nice and tidy ending.
The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk
We end our trip in 1911 at Au Sable Lighthouse. Jesse and Nathan go off to sea but only one brother returns. i could feel how guilty Jesse felt being the brother who survived. It reminds me of survivors guilt. You feel horrible that everyone you were with didn’t make it and you wonder why you were spared. I liked how the author showed the bitterness Lydia had toward Jesse. it is a good story about forgiveness and I enjoyed reading how the characters found a way to overcome their guilt and try to become friends again.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit and Barbour Publishing. The review is my own opinion.
I’ve always enjoyed these novella collections from Barbour Publishing and this collection is no exception. All the stories take place in the lighthouses stationed around the Great Lakes between 1883-1911. Many of the contributing authors were new to me and I enjoyed discovering them.
Each story in the collection is unique. Pegg Thomas creates an interesting story in Anna’s Tower about an aspiring female lighthouse keeper named Anna and a Russian immigrant Maksim facing prejudice and racism. Candice Patterson weaves a tender and sweet marriage of convenience story in Beneath a Michigan Moon about Ava who is secretly keeping the lighthouse after her father’s death and Ben who is a logger working nearby. It has great dialogue and character development. In Safe Haven, Rebecca Jepson brings to light, with a flare of suspense, Rose’s unknown past as she works as a lighthouse keeper and as Nathan, a sea captain and a friend of her grand father’s, enters her life. Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels also has an element of mystery and suspense as Val discovers her true identity while helping the newly appointed keeper Paul with his daughter. The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser puts Mallory who suffers amnesia from a shipwreck with Cal who is a lighthouse keeper with a young daughter. The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley has a bit of suspense and unconventional plot where a woman physician Norma returns home to the lighthouse when a businessman Drake comes searching for his missing ship and money and needs her assistance after an injury. The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk showcases heartache and healing as Lydia mourns the death of her fiancé in a shipwreck while her fiancé’s brother, Jesse, who survived must learn about forgiveness and life after tragedy.
If you enjoy historical novella collections with a strong faith arc, you will enjoy this book. I was given a copy of this book by Barbour Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.